What does « Makhr » mean in the Quran?

Discover the meaning of the word Makhr (مخر) in the Quran, with 2 verses in which it appears, and a detailed explanation from Al-Raghib al-Asfahani's Mufradat fi gharib al-Qur'an.

مخر
Makhr
Root: م - خ - ر
Quranic language 2 verses

Updated on 29 May 2026 at 7:00 AM

📖 1 min read

Definition of Makhr

Al-Makhr refers to cleaving water while sailing.

The Almighty says: 'And the ships that cleave the sea' (Fatir 12).

Makhara as-safīnatu means the ship cleaves the water.

Al-mawākhir are ships that cleave waves.

Makhr in the Quran (2)

Meccan: 2 Medinan: 0
Distribution of verses by surah
An-Nahl 1
Fatir 1
Surah An-Nahl : 14 Meccan
﴿وَهُوَ ٱلَّذِى سَخَّرَ ٱلْبَحْرَ لِتَأْكُلُوا۟ مِنْهُ لَحْمًا طَرِيًّا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُوا۟ مِنْهُ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَا وَتَرَى ٱلْفُلْكَ مَوَاخِرَ فِيهِ وَلِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ﴾
And it is He who subjected the sea for you to eat from it tender meat and to extract from it ornaments which you wear. And you see the ships plowing through it, and [He subjected it] that you may seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful.
Surah Fatir : 12 Meccan
﴿وَمَا يَسْتَوِى ٱلْبَحْرَانِ هَٰذَا عَذْبٌ فُرَاتٌ سَآئِغٌ شَرَابُهُۥ وَهَٰذَا مِلْحٌ أُجَاجٌ وَمِن كُلٍّ تَأْكُلُونَ لَحْمًا طَرِيًّا وَتَسْتَخْرِجُونَ حِلْيَةً تَلْبَسُونَهَا وَتَرَى ٱلْفُلْكَ فِيهِ مَوَاخِرَ لِتَبْتَغُوا۟ مِن فَضْلِهِۦ وَلَعَلَّكُمْ تَشْكُرُونَ﴾
And not alike are the two bodies of water. One is fresh and sweet, palatable for drinking, and one is salty and bitter. And from each you eat tender meat and extract ornaments which you wear, and you see the ships plowing through [them] that you might seek of His bounty; and perhaps you will be grateful.

Words from the same root as Makhr

أخر
Akhr
أرم
Arm
أمر
Amr
برم
Bram
ثمر
Thamar
جرم
Jarm
حرم
Ḥarram
حمر
Ḥmira

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